Ham Pasta Salad With Ranch Dressing
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This creamy and cheesy ham pasta salad recipe is the perfect spring and summer supper. Who can say no to a dish overflowing with tender smoked ham, pasta, lots of fresh veggies, and ranch dressing?
The question I’ve been asked the most this week amid record high temperatures is “What can I cook for supper that won’t heat up the kitchen?”. So I whipped up one of my favorite pasta salads to post for ya real quick. This one is filled with smoked ham (the smoked part is important), tomatoes, cucumbers, English peas (I guess that means they talk with a British accent), cheese, and bowtie pasta. It’s all tied together with a creamy ranch dressing.
Fortunately, you don’t have to spend a lot of time in the kitchen to whip up this quick and easy ham pasta salad recipe. Chop the ham and veggies while the pasta boils, then combine all of the ingredients in a mixing bowl. Pop it in the fridge for an hour or several to let all the flavors mingle and voila, that’s how you make my creamy ham pasta salad.
Now, before we go further, I just wanna say these are my ingredients. But feel free to alter the recipe to use up what you have on hand or to suit your personal tastes. If you don’t like cucumber, leave it out. Alternatively, if you can’t get enough of carrot, pop them in. If this cold pasta salad doesn’t suit your family’s tastes, don’t fret because they’re not the ones making this ~grins~. It’s good to be the cook!
Let’s make supper.. or lunch… or a mid-day snack.
Recipe Ingredients
- Bowtie pasta
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Grape tomatoes
- Frozen peas
- Bell pepper
- Cucumber
- Ranch dressing
- Smoked ham
How to Make Ham Pasta Salad
First, we’re going to boil our pasta according to the package directions. Drain in a colander and pour running cold water over pasta, while stirring, until completely cooled. Allow the pasta to drain fully before pouring it into a large bowl.
While that’s boiling, dice up your ham into nice bite-sized pieces or smaller, peel and chop up cucumber, and chop up your bell pepper.
Now we’re going to combine everything in a big ol’ bowl. First goes the pasta.
Then add the ham…
the shredded cheddar cheese…
the thawed frozen peas…
the cucumber…
the bell pepper…
the grape tomatoes…
and finally, add in your dressing.
Now we’re going to stir up our ham pasta salad really well.
Cover and refrigerate until chilled and ready to serve.
If you’re hungry, eat some now and I won’t tell.
Dig in!
Storage
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Recipe Notes
- There are so many ways to make this ham and cheese pasta salad recipe your own. Let’s take a look:
- Use whatever meat you like. This might be shredded chicken breast, rotisserie chicken, leftover turkey breast, leftover ham, or cooked bacon.
- Add whatever frozen or fresh vegetables you like as well. Some other suggestions include corn, red onion or green onion, broccoli, and celery.
- Use a different salad dressing. Many recipes opt for just mayonnaise or Italian dressing.
- Use half cheddar cheese and half shredded parmesan cheese if you like.
- For pickle fans, add 1/2 cup of drained dill pickle relish.
- Use whatever small pasta you have on hand, whether that’s elbow macaroni pasta, small shell pasta, or rotini.
- Whenever I need smoked ham for a quick recipe, I just go to the deli counter and ask for a single slice that is about 1/2-inch thick. That is the perfect size for dicing up and using in recipes. The smoked ham adds a wonderful flavor to this meal.
- You don’t need to cook the frozen peas. Just let them thaw a bit while you prepare this and they’ll be fine.
Check out these other sensational salad recipes:
Old-Fashioned Ham Salad Recipe
Recipe for Caprese Salad with Chicken and Avocado
Chicken Salad Recipe for Sandwiches
Broccoli Salad With Bacon and Raisins
The BEST German Potato Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 box bowtie pasta 1 pound
- 1-2 cups diced smoked ham
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup frozen peas thawed slightly
- 1 peeled and chopped large cucumber
- 1/2 diced bell pepper
- 1-2 cups grape tomatoes
- 1 cup buttermilk ranch dressing
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain in a colander and pour running cold water over pasta, while stirring, until completely cooled. Allow the pasta to drain fully before pouring it into a large bowl.1 box bowtie pasta
- Add all other ingredients to the large bowl and stir until well combined.1-2 cups diced smoked ham, 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, 1 cup frozen peas, 1 peeled and chopped large cucumber, 1/2 diced bell pepper, 1 cup buttermilk ranch dressing, 1-2 cups grape tomatoes
- Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Keeps well for three days in the refrigerator.
Nutrition
In daily life we must see that it is not happiness that makes us grateful, but gratefulness that makes us happy.
Brother David Steindl-Rast
Sounds good, but will have to figure out some substitutes, I like cucumbers but they don’t like me. And husband won’t touch bell peppers if he can see they are in there. Definitely grateful for my family and my health. We have had several friends battling Cancer lately. Some winning for which I am also grateful!
Christy, not only do you give us great recipes, but great perspective as well. You are an inspiration to me and I appreciate you for the recipes, but most importantly the perspective and the good advice. God bless you.
Remember as a child where the heat did not bother you at all? Play outside all day, come in at supper time for some sweet tea all covered in dirt? No air conditioning, just a window fan. And we are talking the 1960s in rural TN. My grandsons have no idea, heck, my kids have no idea….
Christy, I cannot wait to try this. I absolutely adore pasta salad. since I am not able to cook very often this will be perfect for me. You sure can eat it with your eyes also. A plus on this one also. I live here in MS and it is hot also. My AC went out in my bedroom and its rough but thankfully I get enough air by leaving my bedroom door open. Just not what I need for my disease but praise God for helping me through this ordeal. I lost my home when my husband passed almost five years ago and thank my middle son for taking me in. God is good and I thank him for giving us Christy Jordan. Have a great day.
Christy, for the last few years with things changing (and not always for the better) economically, so we try to remind ourselves to…
Have some gratitude with our attitude -)
It’s ok to be upset with setbacks and such, but as you say…remember our blessings in spite our of difficulties.
We tend to have a greedy attitude in the USA. I think it is good to stop and consider even the poorest here are wealthy in comparison to most of the world.
I am thankful for all God has given me and continues to pour out his blessings on me. I am grateful I can even Thank God out loud and in public with out risking death. I praise him for my home family and health.
I love your recipes and I am thankful for your wonderful heart.
Doesn’t have to be ancestors that roll their eyes, I often do that, I grew up in Texas & graduated high school in 1965. Most, if not all, of my school years we did not have air conditioning, we had a water fan, if any of you are old enough to remember those. Better than a plain fan but made every thing within 20 feet kinda damp…and you had to almost sit right in front to actually be cool. My, how things have changed since then. I don’t think I could make it without air conditioning now in Texas, it was 106 earlier this week, we used to work in the field chopping cotton and later pulling cotton, I know I could not do that now. I am ever so grateful to have a nice home that is cool in the summer and warm in the winter! God is good!
Can’t wait to try this pasta salad, having a friend over tomorrow, this may be our lunch! Thanks so much!